Access to primary care services for homeless mentally ill people

Modernisation of mental health services has been a government priority in recent years with new legislation, increased funding and investment and service reforms. The National Service Framework (NSF) for Mental Health defines national standards to meet the mental healthcare needs of adults up to the age of 65. This article considers standards two and three of the NSF regarding access to primary care services for people with a mental health problem. It discusses whether these standards consider homeless people, who continue to experience significant problems gaining equal access to health care.